Magneto-electric generator.



IAGNETO ELECTRIC GENERATOR.

(Application flhd Mar. 18, 1901.)

(No Model.)

27136665565 J M imam?! To all whom it may concern.- 7 ranged on opposite sides of the frame A. The

Be it known that 1, JOHN S. MEAD, a citizen front plate D may be secured directly to the of the United States, residing at the city of adjacent side of the frame, as shown, while Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of the other plate D is supported at a distance New York, have invented a new and useful from the frame by horizontal rods or sleeves (Z.

Improvement in Magneto-Electric Generae is a transverse driving-shaft arranged tors, of which the followingis a specification. above the armature-shaft c and journaled in This invention relates to a magneto-electric the upper portions of the bracket-plates D D generator, and more particularly to hand-genand provided at its outer end with a compara- IO erators of this class which are employed for tively large driving-gear E, having a crank curative purposes and which are provided 6 for turning it. The gear-wheel E meshes with a current-interrupter or make-and-break with a gear-pinion f, secured to the armaturedevice which is adjustable in such manner shaft. that the point in the rotation of the armature g is a metallic commutator or collecting- 15 at which the break occurs can be varied withring mounted on the armature-shaft and inin certain limits for regulating the strength sulated therefrom by a bushing g and conor intensity of the current. It is well known nected with one end of the armature-coil 9 that if the break occurs when the poles of the as shown at 9 The other end of this coil is armature are about reversing a current of connected with the metallic body of the ar- 20 comparatively high electromotive force is demature, as shown at h in Fig. 4. 7o veloped and that in a position of ninety de- 1' is a contact-brush bearing against the c0lgrees from this point the intensity of the curlecting-ring g and. connected with a bindingrent is slight, While its strength gradually inpost J, which forms one terminal of the gencreases as the point in the rotation of the arerator and which is secured by said post to 2 5 mature at which the break occurs approaches an insulating-block J. This block is in turn the first-named position of the armature. fastened to the inner side of the bracket- It is the object of my invention to provide plate D, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. the circuit-interrupter of the generator with J 2 is a binding-post secured to the frame A an adjustable device of simple construction and forming the other terminal of the genera- 30 which can be cheaply produced, which can tor and connected with the end h of the armabe conveniently manipulated and understood ture-coil through the frame A, the bracketby laymen, and which is not liable to get out plate D, and the body of the armature. of order. 7c is a metallic interrupting-cam or make- In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is and-break device mounted on the rear portion 3 5 afront view of the generator. Fig. 2 is a rear of the armature-shaft and electrically conview thereof; Fig.3 is a side elevation of nected therewith, andl is a metallic spring the same. Fig. at is a fragmentary central or contact-brush bearing against the cam 75 section of the generator, on an enlarged scale, and connected with the binding-post J. The taken lengthwise of the armature. Figs. 5, cam 7t and the brush Z constitute the make- 40 6, and 7 are transverse vertical sections on and-break device of the generator. The 0 the correspondingly-numbered lines in Fig. 4. brushes '5 and Z are both connected with the Like letters of reference refer to like parts binding-post J and with each other and are in the several figures. preferably formed in one piece with a shank A is the stationary metallic frame of the Z, which is secured to the block J by said 45 generator, which is substantially rectangular binding-post, as shown in Fig. 3. The interand preferably forms the field l3. rupting-cam 7c is formed on or secured to a O is the rotary armature, mounted on the sleeve 7t, capable of turning on the armaturetransversearmature-shaft c. This shaftturns shaft,'so that the cam can be adjusted cirin bearings arranged in the lower portions of cumferentially on the shaft for changing the 50 a pair of vertical bracket-plates D D, ar-

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN S. MEAD, OF BUFFALO, NElV YORK, ASSIGNOR TO ALBERT V. COURTNEY, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

MAG'N ETD-ELECTRIC GENERATOR.

SPEGIFTCA'II ON forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 685,286, dated October 29, 1901. Application filed March 18,1901. Serial No. 51.776. (No model.)

position of its high portions relatively to the loo armature-poles. The sleeve is is provided with a setting wheel or disk M, which is secured thereto on the outer side of the bracketplate D and provided with a milled or roughened edge. This setting-wheel is provided near its edge with a segmental row of locking recesses or openings m.

n is a looking or coupling catch for the disk M, arranged on the outer side of the latter and consisting, preferably, of a lever mounted on the armature-shaft to turn therewith and provided at one end with an inwardlyturned lip 11, which interlocks with one of the openings m of the setting-disk, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4, thereby locking the disk to the armature-shaft and compelling it and the interruptingcam to turn with the armature-shaft. In the preferred construction shown in the drawings the locking-lever n is interlocked with the armature-shaft by providing the lever with a rectangular opening a for the passage of the shaft and making the adjacent portion of the shaft of corresponding cross-section, this opening being large enough to permit the necessary rocking movement of the lever. The lever is fulerumed against the outer end of the camsleeve 76 and held against the same preferably by a spring o,which surrounds the armature shaft and bears at its inner end against the lever and at its outer end against a collar 19, secured to the rear end of the armature-shaft and serving'both as an abutment for the spring and as a knob for turning the armature-shaft or holding it against turning with reference to the interruptingcam 7a in adjusting the latter. In the construction shown in the drawings this cam is elliptical in form, and it is made of such a size that when one of its low portions faces its companion brushl the latter is relaxed and clears the cam,breaking the oircuit,while when one of the high portions of the cam arrives opposite said brush it touches and deflects the same, thus establishing the circuit.

As shown in Fig. 4, the cam-sleeve k is journaled in the bracket-plate D and forms a bearing for the rear portion of the armature-shaft.

The terminals of the instrument or apparatus through which the current is to be passed or a suitable pair of body-electrodes are connected with the binding-posts J J'.

In the use of the generator when the armature is turned and the interrupting-cam 70 touches its companion brush Z the armature is short-circuited through the collecting-ring g, the corresponding brush 2' the other brush Z, cam 70, armature-shaft c, and armature-body. During the interval that a break occurs between the cam 70 and its brush Z the short or shunt circuit is interrupted and the main circuit is established through the armature-coil, the collecting-ring g, brush 2', binding-posts J J generator-frame A, bracket-plate D, and the armature-body. The circuits are rapidly opened and closed by the make-and-break ceases cam 7t, prod ucinga comparatively strong current in a manner common to this class of gencrators.

When it is desired to increase or diminish the intensity of the current, the setting-disk M is unlocked by pressing the thumb upon the tail end of the locking-lever n to disengage its lipped end from the disk, and the latter is then turned in one or the other direetion relatively to the armature-shaft for changing the position of the interruptingcam 7; with reference to the armature-poles. The locking-lever is then released and allowed to engage in the opposing opening of the setting-disk for again locking the disk and the interrupting-cam to the armatureshaft. To facilitate the adjustment of the interrupting-cam, the letters S ant WV may be stamped on the setting-disk at opposite ends of its series of locking-openings, as shown in Fig. 2, to indicate the direction in which the disk must be turned to obtain a strong or a weak current. These lockingopenings also serve as graduations for indicating current gradations between the maximum and the minimum.

The simplicity of my improved adjusting device enables it to be produced at small expense and lessens its liability of getting out of order, while the convenience with which it can be manipulated renders it especially desirable for small hand-generators, which are employed in the treatment of nervous and other disorders and intended for the use of persons unfamiliar with the construction and operation of such devices.

I claim as my invention-- 1. In a magneto-electric generator, the combination with the armature, and a main and a shunt circuit, of a make-and-break device capable of rotary adjustment on the armatureshaft and forming one of the terminals of the shunt-circuit, and a locking-catch for said make-and-break device connected with the armature-shaft to turn therewith, substantially as set forth.

2. In a magneto-electric generator,the C0111- bination with the armature, and a main and a shunt circuit, of a make-and-break device capable of rotary adjustment on the armatureshaft and forming one of the terminals of the shunt-circuit, a setting-wheel connected with said make-and-break device, and a lockingcatch connected with the armature shaft to turn therewith and constructed to interlock with said setting-wheel, substantially as set fOltll.

3. In a magneto-electric generator, the con1- bination with the armature, and a main and a shunt circuit, of a make-and-break cam capable of rotary adjustment on the ar1nature shaft and forming one of the terminals of the shunt circuit, a brush arranged to bear against said cam and forming the other terminal of the shunt-circuit, a setting-wheel connected with said cam and provided with a series of locking-recesses, and a lockingcatch connected with the armature-shaft to turn therewith and interlocking with one of the recesses of the setting-wheel, substantially as set forth.

4. In a magneto-electric generator, the combination with the armature, and a main and a shunt circuit, of an interrupting-cam capable of rotary adjustment on the armatureshaft and forming one of the terminals of the shunt-circuit, a setting-wheel connected with said cam and provided with a series of locking-recesses, a locking-lever provided with a flat-sided opening-which receives a corresponding portion of the armature-shaft and having a lip which interlocks with one of the recesses of the setting-wheel, and a spring arranged to hold the lever in engagement with the setting-wheel, substantially as set forth.

5. In a magneto-electric generator, the combination with the armature and its shaft provided at one end with a knob or projection, of a main and a shunt circuit, a sleeve capable of rotary adjustment on the armatureshaft and carrying an interrupting-cam which forms one of the terminals of the shunt-circuit, a setting-Wheelprovided with a row of locking recesses, a locking lever bearing against the end of said sleeve and having a flat-sided opening which receives a corresponding portion of the armature-shaft, and a lip which interlocks with a recess of the setting-wheel, and a spring surrounding the armature-shaft between said lever and knob of the armature-shaft, substantially as set forth.

6. In a magneto-electric generator, the 00111- bination with the armature and its shaft, and a main and a shunt circuit, of an insulated collecting-ring mounted on said shaft and connected with one end of the armature-coil, a make-and-break cam capable of rotary adjustment on the armature shaft and electrically connected therewith, a setting-wheel connected with said cam, a locking-catch connected with the armature-shaft to turn therewith and interlocking with said setting-wheel, a pair of electrically-connected brushes bearin g against said collecting-ring and said cam, respectively, and a binding-post connected with both of said brushes, substantially as set forth.

7. In a magneto-electric generator, the combination with the armature and its shaft, and a main and a shunt circuit, of an insulated collecting-ring mounted on said shaft and connected with one end of the armature-coil, a make-and-break cam electrically connected with the armature-shaft and turning therewith, a pair of contact-brushes bearing against said cam and said collecting-ring, respectively, and arranged on the same side of the armature-shaft, and a binding-post or terminal connected with said brushes, substantially as set forth.

Witness my hand this 15th day of March, 1901.

JOHN S. MEAD;

Witnesses:

CARL F. GEYER, ARTHUR H. PoPP. 

